After enjoying breakfast in our aparthotel we walked the short distance to Liverpool Central Station for a Merseyrail train to Waterloo. As we intended to make another journey later in the day we purchased off-peak day returns at £4.20 each.
The journey heading northwards along the coast took just 17 minutes and from there we turned left out of the station down South Road passing numerous shops, bars and cafes until we reached the promenade.
It was another bright, sunny morning and ideal for a bracing walk along the seafront following a path through Crosby coastal park and the lakeside. Before going out to sea the path winds its way between two lakes and then across sand dunes. It didn’t take very long until we had reached the beach and the first of Antony Gormley’s figures had come into view.
Crosby Beach is now the permanent home for his installation, ‘Another Place’ after having previously been displayed in Germany, Norway and Belgium. The statues were due to be moved to New York back in 2006 but the council agreed they could remain permanently at Crosby as it helped to bring tourists to the area.
Antony Gormley, best known for his Angel of the North statue in Gateshead created this installation in 1997, three years after winning the Turner Prize. It consists of 400 life size cast-iron figures spread over a 3.2km stretch of Crosby Beach. Each statue weighs 650 kilos and is a cast replica of the artist’s own body, all of them staring out to the Irish Sea in silent expectation. As the tides ebb and flow the figures are revealed and submerged by the sea.
As the tide was out we wandered down onto the beach to take a closer look at some of the figures. As several of the statues are positioned up to 1km out to sea, it is not advisable to go so far out as it is easy to get cut off by the fast incoming tide or to get stuck in the soft sand or mud.
As well as viewing the sculptures it is a very pleasant walk along the promenade and on the Saturday morning of our visit it was popular with both walkers and cyclists. For the energetic, the promenade also forms part of the Sefton Coastal Path, a 21 mile walking/ cycling route between Crosby and Southport.
To our left we enjoyed far reaching views across the Mersey estuary to the Wirral peninsula whilst to the other side were pleasantly wooded areas with numerous Edwardian villas on the road behind facing the sea. We turned inland by the coastguard station and continued to Hall Road railway station 450 m from the promenade. Our leisurely morning walk had taken approx. 75 minutes and was 3.2 miles (5.1 km) in length. If you prefer to travel by car there is free parking along the seafront and in the local car parks.
After returning to our accommodation for a little rest and some lunch we were ready to set off again and make further use of our rail day ticket. Back at Liverpool Central Station we caught a train on the same line as earlier but this time heading in a southerly direction to St. Michael’s station as we wished to explore Sefton Park.
The station is located one mile from the park entrance and accessed via Belgrave Road and then by following Lark Lane to its end. Sefton Park is Liverpool’s main park covering 200 acres taking the form of a natural landscape rather than formal gardens. I think we had arrived at the best time of year as it looked delightful with cherry trees in full bloom by the lakeside and banks of daffodils still in flower.
There were lots of people out enjoying the fresh air but as it’s so vast it didn’t seem crowded, with ample room for everyone to spread out. Several bands were playing in different areas, providing entertainment for families enjoying a picnic or just lazing in the spring sunshine.
Positioned next to the main café stands a 7ft statue of Eros, the Greek God of Love. If you think you might have seen this somewhere else you would be correct as it is a replica of the one in Piccadilly Circus, London.
A second casting was unveiled in 1932 and its designer Sir Alfred Gilbert is thought to have preferred the Liverpool one because it was set on a fountain.
Taking pride of place in the park is the magnificent Palm House, a Victorian glass panelled building erected in 1896 and more recently restored to its former glory. It contains over 200 plants some of which are extremely rare and now doubles as a popular wedding and event venue.
Another point of interest we came across was the Victorian bandstand which is said to be the inspiration for The Beatles song Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
On leaving the park we decided to visit another of the city’s parks on our way to the riverside. It took us around 20 minutes to reach Festival Gardens, a former household refuse site which was transformed into the UK’s first ever International Garden Festival in 1984. The festival was a concept designed to boost tourism in the city and during its five months a staggering 3.4 million visitors came to visit.
Since then a large part of the gardens were developed to form residential housing whilst the remaining gardens fell into disrepair. Starting in 2010 the gardens have been transformed with boardwalks and woodland trails. Both a Japanese and a Chinese pagoda have been restored both originating from the festival and we enjoyed following some of the winding paths that link through to the waterfront.
We had now arrived at the Otterspool Promenade, a level walking and cycling path connecting to Pier Head in the city centre. We hadn’t walked very far before we came across The Britannia Inn and as luck would have it, we managed to secure a table bathed in sunshine overlooking the river estuary. After months of pubs being closed, we relished our glasses of lager sitting out on the terrace feeling that life was once again returning to normal.
Refreshed, following our welcome break it then took us just under an hour to walk back to the hotel passing Brunswick Dock, Manners Wharf and Queens Dock on our way. Soon afterwards we turned inland by the M & S Bank Arena, a venue I had seen ABBA The Musical at back in 2010 when it was known as the Echo Arena. It had been perfect spring weather and both our short train journeys to Crosby Beach and Sefton Park had provided us with lots of interesting things to see and do.
Later in the evening we couldn’t resist going out again taking a short walk to Pier Head where we saw the city’s landmark buildings and The Beatles statue after dusk.
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Amazing place 😍
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Thank you for reading this post and commenting Vatsal, it’s much appreciated.
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I really like the way you describe the feeling of the places and what happens around. I can really create the a clear picture of those places in my mind. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
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Thank you for your kind words and compliments. It’s so nice to read that you are enjoying my style of travel writing. Marion
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Sefton park is like fairytale .. beautiful pictures..😍
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Thank you, it’s a lovely park especially with the blossom in flower.
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Hy….. Plz visit my site too if u like them do follow💗💗
https://wp.me/sd1Zgd-paints
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I’ll definitely take a look as soon as I have time!
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Wow that’s amaz
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The statues on the beach are really stunning. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.
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Wonderful post. I seem to remember that when Caroline lived in Liverpool back in the 90s there was an appeal for people to pay for a glass panel in the palm house which we signed up for.
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The Palm House looks beautiful and I hope to return sometime when its open to look inside. I’m so pleased it has been restored to its former glory. Thank you for taking the time to comment Paul. Marion
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Very lovely. It’s amazing what wonderful beautiful things are in this world
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I’m so pleased you enjoyed my visit to Crosby Beach, thank you for taking the time to comment.
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the Victorian Palm House is without a doubt splendid as are the dunes.
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The Palm House is indeed beautiful Andy. Thanks for commenting.
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Wow. That is an unusual statue on the beach. Sefton Park is a fascinating site.
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Thank you, yes, it’s quite extraordinary to find 400 casts of the sculptor on a beach isn’t it but they look to have found their perfect home there. Sefton Park is also beautiful especially with the blossom at its best. Hope you have a good weekend. Marion
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I love reading your travel stories.Enjoy your weekend Marion.
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Thank you!
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I love reading and learning more about Liverpool through your wonderful posts and photos, Marion. One of the places I always wanted to visit was the Walker Art Gallery that holds a stunning collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. One of the things I love about Brittan is its train network from Cornish coastal trains to the wild Scottish highlands. I think that Rail travel is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable ways to explore Britain. Can’t wait to do it one day. Thanks for sharing and have a good day. Aiva 🙂 xxx
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Thank you for your kind words. Travelling by train is one of my favourite ways of getting around too Aiva. Just being able to relax, tuck into a packed lunch, gaze out of the window and not having to worry about finding a parking place on arrival! I’d also like to visit the Walker Art Gallery when I next return to Liverpool to view some of its extensive collection. Hope you have a good weekend. Marion
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Excellent suggestions for things to see beyond the centre, Marion. I must go to Crosby Beach. Aren’t those statues just wonderful. I’m sure they must see me looking at them from Bray Head!
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The statues are really life-like Shane and it was splendid to be able to view them. I’ve seen the Angel of the North many times but only from train windows on the east coast mainline. Had lunch in a beer garden today and ended up having to get my umbrella out! Still worth going though and hope you’ll be able to do the same before long. Marion
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June 7th is what we’re told at the moment, Marion. Only a month away. I’ve seen the Angel of the North from a car window on visits to Sunderland and Newcastle. Gladdens the heart.
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It is truly brilliant!!
What a treat for the eyes!😍🤩
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Those statues are really life-like especially the ones furthest out to sea and so interesting to view. Thank you for taking the time to comment, it’s much appreciated.
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So right yeah!!
They even look so lively in the pictures you uploaded!
😃🤩
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Thank you!
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Crosby Beach looks to be a beautiful one…and not too crowded, it seems! The cherry trees at Sefton Park are abundant and a delight, and a great way to capture the season’s atmosphere. There’s so much more to Liverpool than just The Beatles, as you’ve come to show us, and it’s been great exploring the city vicariously through your posts!
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The beach art installations are very interesting with the ones furthest out to sea easily being mistaken for real people! Sefton Park is a delight especially its glass Palm House, just a pity it was still closed. Thanks for your welcome thoughts Rebecca. Hope things are going well. Marion
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So much to see there. I particularly liked the beach statue and the statues of the Beatles 🙂
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Those beach statues are so life-like that I’m certain the ones furthest out to sea often get mistaken for real people! I liked The Beatles statue too Ian. Thanks for reading and commenting. Marion
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If I didn’t know the history of the statues on the beach I think I would be worried about them and wondering why they’re naked 🤔
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They do seem a bit strange and I’m sure the distant ones are occasionally mistaken as real people! Thanks for taking an interest in my post and for commenting. Marion
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To have the statues consumed by the tides and then be visible when the tide recedes is such an interesting way to showcase an art installment. And I loved the glass greenhouse- what a beautiful place to hold an event. Wonderful post!
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Thank you so much for taking an interest in this post. It was quite a day of contrasts from the beach art installation at Crosby Beach to the Palm House at Sefton Park. Both lovely in their own ways.
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Love the statues in the sand. Hope no life guards ever get confused and try to save them. So nice to be in Liverpool during cherry blossom time. We miss our blossom time in Vancouver and our area will not come into blossom for a few more weeks yet, with apple, chokecherry and flowering plum blossoms. Hope we get some rain soon. Thanks for sharing Marion. Allan
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I also wondered if ever the statues got mistaken for real people, especially the ones far out to sea! The blossom in Sefton Park was beautiful and in fact it’s lovely everywhere right now. Just hope we don’t get any strong winds or heavy rain to spoil it. At least you will still have the blossom to look forward to in Edmonton Allan. Thanks for reading, Marion
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That sculpture is amazing, it looks so unique 🙂
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Thanks Hannah. Another Place is a stunning installation and in the sunlight the statues cast a golden glow across the beach. Perhaps you’ll be able to fit in a visit in November if the weather is reasonable! Marion
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Sorry, Marion, I meant to ask, was the aparthotel you stayed in the former Lewis’s building at the bottom of Mount Pleasant?
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No, it’s in a former 1980’s office building on Church Street diagonally opposite Marks & Spencer’s.
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I took my mum to the Festival Gardens, we had a great time! Spool on many years – Gormley’s statue are still amazing. I lived not far from Sefton Park for many years and I can’t count how many hours I spent there. Thanks for the wonderful tour, Marion.
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I went to the Gateshead Garden Festival in 1990 but for some reason never went to the Liverpool one despite it being probably nearer to where I lived than Gateshead. The leafy Sefton Park area must have been quite a nice place for you to live Chris. Thanks for commenting. Marion
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Crosby Beach looks beautiful with those sand dunes. The installation of those life size figures is pretty neat, but I wonder how many times someone has mistaken one of them for a real person!
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I wondered that too, especially the ones furthest away from the beach! Walking through the sand dunes was very pleasant as was our later trip to Sefton Park with its cherry and almond blossoms. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Marion
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Thanks for sharing! Love Liverpool, but have never seen the beachy part or Sefton Park – looks like a lovely getaway. Glad you enjoyed your time there!
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Thanks Leah for taking an interest in this post. Both Crosby Beach and Sefton Park are easy to reach from the city centre so hopefully you’ll have time to fit in a visit next time you are in Liverpool. Marion
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Great blog, fabulous pics!
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Thanks Judy. Visiting both Crosby Beach and Sefton Park was very enjoyable.
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A lot of fun to see your article on two spots I have recently finished writing up. The Statues in the Sand was one of my favourite experience in Liverpool, they are just stunning when the sun shines and all that reflective light gets going. And Sefton Park is just lovely! In Beatles folklore it’s widely believed that the bandstand is where Alf Lennon and Julia Stanley used to meet up when they were courting. Nice shot of Palm House, a gorgeous structure!
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It’s great to read that you also visited Crosby Beach and Sefton Park on your Liverpool trip. Both so interesting Leighton and plenty of fresh air too! Will look forward to your own report! Marion
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Those statues on the beach (or in the sea) is quite interesting. And wow, I just love your photo’s of the Cherry trees in full bloom in Sefton Park – it’s really beautiful!
It seems you had a long walk on this day – great to be outdoors on such a sunny day!
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We were so lucky with the weather and I think that when we returned to the hotel and checked my phone, we had walked a long way but with so many interesting things to see and do, it didn’t feel like it. Thank you for your welcome thoughts. Marion
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Just love those ‘Another Place’ sculptures. You may like to Google an Aussie guy called Pete Rush who installs driftwood sculptures on beaches. Equally stunning and atmospheric. Thanks for sharing. Mel
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Thank you for taking an interest in my post on Crosby Beach. The sculptures are really stunning. I’ll definitely Google Pete Rush and take a look at his driftwood sculptures too. Thanks for letting me know about them.
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My pleasure. Enjoy
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